Veteran cornerback Darius Slay was absent from Pittsburgh Steelers practice Thursday. The reason listed on the status report was “personal matter.”
Slay, who turns 35 on New Year’s Day, is his first season with the Steelers after 12 years, six Pro Bowl berths and a Super Bowl ring earned last season as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. But after playing every defensive snap in the Steelers’ first two games of the season, Slay played only 50% of the snaps in this past Sunday’s 35-25 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Starting left guard Isaac Seumalo again did not practice Thursday and is unlikely to play Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. He suffered a pectoral injury during the Green Bay game.
Freiermuth, Frazier back
Offensive starters Pat Freiermuth and Zach Frazier returned to practice after missing Wednesday’s session.
Freiermuth, a tight end, was a full participant Thursday after sitting out the previous day’s session because of a quadriceps injury. Frazier was listed as limited Thursday because of a calf injury suffered two weeks ago. Though Frazier has not practiced fully since suffering his injury during the Oct. 16 game in Cincinnati, he was able to play in this past Sunday’s loss to the Packers.
Holcomb, Peppers added
Additions to the injury report Thursday were inside linebacker Cole Holcomb — who did not practice because of illness — and safety Jabrill Peppers, who was limited because of a quadriceps ailment.
Another player who was downgraded from Wednesday was cornerback Cory Trice, who apparently suffered a knee injury Thursday. He has been on injured reserve since the start of the season because of a hamstring injury suffered early during training camp. Trice returned to practice Wednesday and participated fully that day.
Also on the report
Scotty Miller missed a second consecutive practice because of a finger injury that prevented him from playing against the Packers, but fellow depth receiver Ben Skowronek (neck) improved from limited to fully participating in practice from Wednesday to Thursday.
Two players for whom the clock is ticking toward an activation to the active roster but remain on injured reserve, rookie quarterback Will Howard and inside linebacker Malik Harrison, continue to practice fully. Harrison must be added to the active roster by Monday and Howard by Nov. 12 or each is lost for the season.
Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward and wide receiver DK Metcalf were given veteran’s days off Thursday, and it had been confirmed previously by coach Mike Tomlin that safety DeShon Elliott and defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale would be out because of significant knee injuries.
